Cycling fans were raising a quizzical eyebrow after Carl Grove, a Masters champion from Bristol, Indiana, was handed a public warning by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for epitrenbolone on July 11 last year.

Grove, the oldest participant at the Masters Track National Championships, had set a world record in the men’s 90-94 sprint category.

He claimed that ingesting contaminated meat the evening before competing was “more likely than not” the reason for his positive, pointing out that he had provided a clean sample the day before. Usada dismissed his argument, stripping him of his record.

While investigating the source of his positive test, Usada also determined that a supplement Grove was using prior to July 11, 2018, was contaminated with clomiphene, another prohibited substance.

The sheer absurdity of a 90-year-old testing positive will amuse some. But it is sure to alarm others, providing further evidence of a potentially serious problem within the amateur levels of the sport where testing is far less stringent.